Window cleaning device



Sept. 24, 1963 L. PRESSER 3,104,411

WINDOW CLEANING DEVICE Filed April 25, 1962 2 Sheets Sheet l INVENTOR 1.67552 PRESSEB ATTORNEY Sept. 24, 1963 PRESSER WINDOW CLEANING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25, 1962 O :v D

W' W; a

INVENTOR LE I551? PRESSER IHI- BY 9 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,104,411 WINDOW CLEANING DEVICE Leiser Presser, 1367 46th St., Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed Apr. 25, 1962, Ser. No. 190,127 4 Claims. (Ci. 15250.03)

This invention relates .to window cleaning devices, and is particularly directed to devices of this category as applied to double-hinge windows.

It is an object of my invention to present a window cleaning device that will enable both sides of the inner and outer panes of a window structure to be cleaned by the simple operations of opening and closing the windows. And it is my further object to eliminate the use of automatic cleaning devices and water storage reservoirs, as well as to obviate all need to reach outside of the window for any cleaning operation. In connection with said lastmentioned aspect of my invention, it is my objective to enable all water necessary for the cleaning operation to be supplied from a position interiorly of the window.

My further objective is to present a device having the aforesaid features which is simple of construction, and which can readily be installed without the use of special skills.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the drawings and the description hereinafter given.

Referring to the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a front view of a Window structure employing my invention, the inner and outer window members being shown in partly open positions, details of the wiper members not being sho FIG. 2 is "an enlarged fragmentary section of FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2.

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary section of FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3, portions being broken away for clarity.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section of FIG. 3 taken along line 4-4.

FIG. 5 is "a fragmentary disassembled perspective view of the wiper holding member and moistening strip, the wiper blade not being shown.

FIG. 5a is a perspective view of a spring clip used in my invention for yieldably urging the wiper member into operative engagement with the window pane.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section of FIG. 1 taken substantially along line 6-6.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section of FIG. 6 taken along line 7-7.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary'enlarged front view of a portion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary section of FIG. 8 taken along line 9-9.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary rear view of a portion of the window structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. l l is a fragmentary section of FIG. 10 taken along line 11-11.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary section of FIG. 10 taken along line 12-12;

In the particular embodiment of my invention illustrated, the inner window member 15 and outer window member 16 are operatively slidable along rails 17 and 18 of the lateral sides 19 and 20 of the stationary window framework 21, in conventional manner. The said inner window member 15 is normally closed when it is in its lowermost position, and the outer window member '16 is closed when it is in its uppermost position. Each window has a peripheral frame or sash supporting a pane of glass. The inner window member '15 has the respective upper and lower sash sections 22 and 23 and the lateral sash sections 24 and 25 supporting the window pane 26; and the outer window 16 has the respective upper and lower sash sections 27 and 28, and the lateral sections 29 and 30 supporting the window pane 31.

The structure has four window wiper members opera: tively engageable with the said panes, each of the members being proportioned operatively to engage the full width of the exposed areas of the respective panes. The upper movable wiper member generally designated 32 is mounted on the top surface 33 of the upper sash section 22 of the inner window member 15, said wiper member being slidably engageable with the inner surface 34 of the outer window pane 3 1. The lower movable window wiper 35 is attached to the under-surface 36 of the said lower sash section 28 of the router window member 16, the latter being slidably engageable with the outer surface 37 of the inner window pane 26. The inner stationary wiper member 38 is operatively mounted, in a manner hereinbelow described, on the inner bar '39 supported by the interior portions of the opposite lateral sides 19 and 20 of the window structure 21, said Wiper member 38 being operatively engageable with the inside surface 40 of the inner pane 26. The outer stationary wiper member 41 is operatively mounted on the outside bar 42 supported by the exterior portions of said lateral sides 19 and 20 of said window structure, said last-mentioned wiper member being operatively engageable with the outer surface 43 of the outer pane 31.

As will be seen from FIGS. 1 to 5, the wiper member 32 comprises the longitudinal channel-like holder 44 having along the interior thereof the partition member 45 comprising 'a vertical wall 46 resting against the base 47 of the channel and a horizontal wall '48 disposed intermediate the legs 49 and 50 of said channel. The arrangement is such as to divide said holder 44 into an upper compartment 51 and a lower compartment 52. Disposed longitudinally within said upper compartment is the blade member 53 of conventional construction, said latter member having a flexible Wiping element 54 extending out of the holder and operatively engageable with the adjacent pane in known manner. Disposed longitudinally within said lower compartment is the sponge-like, waterabsorbent moistener strip 55 the operative edge 56 thereof being adapted for slidable engagement with the surface of the adjacent pane. Disposed longitudinally within the said compartment 52 of holder 44 is the water-supply pipe 57 having along a side thereof a plurality of apertures 58. In the preferred form illustrated, the said waterabsorbent strip 55 has a portion thereof compressed between the pipe 57 and the partition member 45, the said apertures 58 of the pipe being in facing relation to the pane being cleaned.

Attached to the base 47 of said' holder 44 are two spaced supporting studs 59, each having an annular recessed body portion 60 straddled by the bifurcated ends 61 of the spring clip 62, the latter being so proportioned and positioned as to urge the stud 59 and the attached wiper components towards the pane 31, so that said flexi'ble blade element 54 and the water-absorbent strip 55 are normally in pressing yielda'ble engagement with the said pane. Each of said studs 59 has. a threaded shank portion 64 extending through the apertured portion 65 of the bracket 66 attached by fasteners 67 to the top surface 33 of the sash section 22. In threaded engage ment with the said shank 64 of each of said studs is the retracting nut 68, there being a space 69 between said nut and the upright arm 70 of the adjacent bracket 66 when the wiper member is in its operative position against the said pane 31. The arrangement is such that there is sufiicient play between each of said nuts '68 and the adjacent arm 70 to permit operative wiping action of the wiper 32 even over a slightly irregular glass surface or a surface containing accumulated dirt portions. If it is desired to retract the wiper member from operative engagement with the pane, each of said nuts 68 is operatively turned clockwise until the end '71 thereof comes into engagement with the adjacent upright arm 70 of the corresponding bracket 66, a continued turning of each of said nuts causing the supporting studs 59 and the wiper assembly carried thereby to be retracted from the pane as the threaded shank 64 is operatively caused to move inwardly into the central cavity 72 f each of said nuts 68.

As clearly appears from: FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, the said water supply pipe 57 is connected at one end thereof to the upwardly extending water inlet portion 57a with a flared upper water-receiving terminal 73. In the form illustrated, there are notches 74, 75 and 76 in the respective corresponding ends of the water-absorbent strip 55, the horizontal wall 48 of the partition member 45 and the upper leg 49 of the channel member 44, respectively, to accommodate Said upwardly extending portion 57a. The end of the pipe 57 opposite its connection to the water inlet section 57a is closed, as indicated by the closed end 77 shown in FIG. 3

The arrangement is such that when water is introduced through the inlet 73'by means of a hose, water-ejecting bu-lb or other suitable sourceit will be absorbed by strip 55, a sufficient amount of water being introduced to enable the strip to serve as a window moistener. When the inner window is raised or the outer window lowered from their respective normally closed positions, the strip 55 will be slidalbly engaged with the inner surface 34 of pane 31, depositing a film of water thereupon by virtue of the compressive action upon the strip 55. For full cleaning, the moving window is brought to its fully open position so that the deposited film of moisture will extend along the entire area of the pane engaged by the strip 55. Upon the return movement of the moving window to its normally closed position, the blade element 54 will flex slightly upwardly, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 4, engaging the previously moistened portion of the pane, and wiping and cleaning it. If, for example, it will be assumed that the inner window member is moved down wardly from its fully opened position, the said blade element 54 will follow the sponge-like strip 55, wiping off all moisture deposited by the latter, so that when the window reaches its bottom normally closed position, the pane will have been fully cleaned without any danger of water seeping upwardly past the blade element 54.

The wiper member 35 is constructed substantially like wiper member 32 above described (see FIGS. 1, 2, 6, 7), there being two brackets 78 attached by fasteners 79' to the underside 36 of the sash section 28, each of said brackets operatively carrying the respective supporting studs 80. The channel-shaped holders 81, the spongelike strips 82 "and wiper blades 83 are substantially like the form first above described, the spring clips 84, each attached to the sash section 28 and each having a bifurcated lower terminal 84a engaging the annular recessed portion a of adjacent stud S9, urging the wiper member towards the pane 26. It will be noted that the water supply pipe 85 is joined to a rearwardly extending portion 86 and an upwardly extending water inlet portion 87 the latter extending through the passageway 88 in the said lower sash section 28 of the outer window member 16, the upper terminal 89 of said upper portion being flared in the manner and for the purpose aforesaid. It will be further observed that the said passageway 88 is elongated in a forwardly and rearwardly direction, thereby to permit an operative forward and rearward movement of the wiper member under the action of spring 84 or the retracting nut 90.

The said wiper member 38 (see FIGS. 1, 8, 9) is, as aforesaid, operatively supported by the transverse bar 39, the latter being secured in place by the brackets 91 and 92 attached to the lateral sides 19 and 20 of the window framework. The said bar 39 is so positioned that the wiper member 38 will be adjacent the upper sash section 4 22 of the inner window member 15 when the latter is in its lowermost position. Fixedly mounted by pins 93 upon said transverse bar 39 are the brackets 94, each having a portion 94a embracing the bar 39 and an upwardly extending portion 95 with an aperture 96 therein through which extends the threaded shank 97 of the adjacent su porting stud 98. The wiper member 38 is substantially like the wiper members above described, containing the sponge-like member 99 and wiper blade 10!). There are spring clips 101 attached by fastener-s 102 to the said upwardly extending portions 95 of each bracket 94, the.

upper bifurcated portion 103 (like the bifurcated springs above described) embracing the recessed portion 104, in the manner aforesaid, thereby yieldably urging the wiper member 38 towards the pane 26. The retracting nut 105 operates substantially in the manner above described, and a description thereof is accordingly not deemed necessary. The water-supply pipe 106 is joined to an upwardly extending Water inlet portion 107 with a flared inlet 108 adapted to receive a water supply therethrough for the sponge-rubber strip 99.

The outermost wiper member 41 is, as aforesaid, mounted on the rear transverse bar 42, the latter being supported by brackets 109 mounted on the outside portions of the lateral sides 19 and 20 of the window framework. Aflixed to said bar 42 by the pins 110 are the two brackets 111,

said brackets each having an upwardly extending portion 112 through the aperture 113 of which the threaded shank 114 of the adjacent supporting stud 115 extends. Each of the brackets 111 supports a spring clip 116 with a bifurcated upper terminal 117 in engagement with the recessed portion 118 of the supporting stud 115, in the manner aforesaid, the spring engaging the wiper member 41 and urging its sponge strip 119 and blade element 120 into yieldable engagement with the outer pane 31. The retracting nut 121 operates like the corresponding nuts of the forms above described. The water supply pipe 122, contained in the wiper member 41, has an ofiset branch 123 joined to a forwardly extending water inlet portion 124 extending through passageway 1-27 in the lateral side 20 of the stationary window structure, said portion 114 being joined to an inner upwardly extending branch 125 having a flared water-receiving mouth 126.

'From the above description it is apparent that the upper member 32 is adapted to clean the inner surf-ace 34 of the outer pane 31 when either the inner window member 15 or outer member 16 is opened and closed. The wiper member 35 is in similar manner adapted to clean the outer surface 37 of the inside window pane 26 when either of said inner or outer window members is opened and closed. The wiper member 38, being operatively mounted on the stationary inner bar 39, is adapted to clean the inside surface 40 of the inner pane 26, the upward movement of the inner window 15 causing the sponge member 99 to moisten said inside surface, and the downward movement of the window causing the flexible blade element 100 to engage the moist surface of the window and Wipe it dry. It will be observed that when the said inner window 15 is in its closed position, with the wiper member 38 adjacent the top of pane 36, the said blade element 100, being positioned below the sponge element 99, seals oif any water drippings therefrom that might.

otherwise flow downwardly along the window surfaces. The outer wiper member 41, being mounted on the stationary bar 42 positioned at the outside of the window, will operatively clean the outer surface of the outer window pane '31 upon a down and up movement of the outer window member 16, in the manner aforesaid.

It will be observed that water can be supplied to all the wiper members from the inside of the window structure, making it unnecessary to reach outside of the window for replenishing the water supply, and also making it unnecessary to keep any reservoirs of water either on the outside or inside of the window structure. No complicated mechanisms are required to efifect the cleaning operation.

All that need be done is to move the inner window upwardly and downwardly, and the outer window upwardly and downwardly, and both inner and outer surfaces of both panes will be operatively moistened, wiped dry and cleaned. The movable wiper members 32 and 35, being mounted on the respective upper and lower sash sections of the window members and 1'6, do not obstruct vision for ordinary viewing through the lower window member; and the stationary wiper members 38 and 41, being mounted on transverse bars which are also positioned in the regions of said respective sash sections 22 and 28, are similarly non-obstructive.

It is apparent that the entire device can readily be installed completely ready for use with a few hand tools and without the need of any special technical skills.

In the above description, the invention has been disclosed merely by way of example and in preferred manner; but obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any form or manner of practicing same, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a window cleaning device for operative use with a window structure comprising a framework and inner and outer window members slidably movable vertically relative to the sides of said framework, said members each having one upper, one lower and two lateral sash sections supporting a pane of glass, the combination of a transverse bar attached to the opposite sides of said framework and positioned interiorly of said inner window mem ber and in the region of its said upper sash section when said inner window member is in its bottommost closed position, a wiper member mounted on said bar and comprising a holder, a wiper blade, a strip of water-absorbing material adjacent said blade, both said blade and strip being supported by said holder and having exterior portions extending from said holder and positioned for engagement with the pane of said inner window member, a water-supply pipe supported by said holder and having apertured portions in engagement with said strip, a water inlet pipe portion communicating with said pipe and extending upwardly through said holder, the uppermost portion thereof having an exposed terminal, and yieldable means in engagement with said holder for yieldably urging said blade and strip against said last-mentioned pane,

said blade being disposed below said strip, whereby said blade will prevent downward water seepage from said strip when said inner window is in its said bottommost closed position.

2. 'In a window cleaning device for operative use with a window structure having a framework and a window member supporting a pane of glass and slidably movable relative to the sides of said framework, the combination of a wiper member comprising a channel-shaped holder, a partition member within the holder and dividing the latter into two parallel compartments one above the other, a wiper blade within one of said compartments, a strip of water-absorbing material in the other of said compartments, both said blade and strip having exterior portions extending from said compartments and positioned for engagement with said pane, a water-supply pipe positioned within the compartment containing said strip and having apertured portions in engagement with said strip, and a water-inlet pipe portion communicating with said pipe and extending upwardly, the uppermost portion of said water-inlet portion having an exposed terminal, an apertured bracket, a stud support attached to said holder, said support having an annular recessed portion and a threaded shank, a bifurcated spring clip in straddling engagement with said annular recessed portion and yieldably urging said holder towards said pane and said blade and strip in pressing engagement therewith, said shank extending through said apertured bracket, a retracting nut in threaded engagement with said shank and engageable with said bracket for operatively retracting said stud support and the attached holder, and means to support said bracket and spring clip.

3. In a window cleaning device for operative use with a window structure comprising a framework and inner and outer window members slidably movable vertically relative to the sides of said framework, said members each having one upper, one lower and two lateral sash sections supporting a pane of glass, the combination of a transverse bar attached to the opposite sides of said framework adjacent the middle of its vertical height and positioned adjacent one of said window members, a wiper member mounted on said bar and comprising a holder, a wiper blade, a strip of water-absorbing material adjacent said blade, both said blade and strip being supported by said holder and having exterior portions extending from said holder and positioned for engagement with the pane of said adjacent window member, a water-supply pipe sup ported by said holder and having apertured portions in engagement with said strip, a water inlet pipe portion communicating with said pipe and extending upwardly through said holder, the uppermost portion thereof having an exposed terminal, and yieldable means in engagement with said holder for yieldably urging said blade and strip against said last-mentioned pane, said blade being disposed below said strip, whereby said blade will prevent downward water seepage from said strip.

4. In a window cleaning device for operative use with a window structure having a framework and a window member supporting a pane of glass and slidably movable relative to the sides of said framework, the combination of a wiper member comprising a channel-shaped holder, a wiper blade in one portion of said holder and a strip of water-absorbing material in an adjacent portion of the holder, both said blade and strip having exterior portions extending from said holder and positioned for engagement with said pane, a water-supply pipe positioned within the portion of said holder containing said strip and having apertured portions in engagement with said strip, and a water-inlet pipe portion communicating with said pipe and extending upwardly, the uppermost portion of said water-inlet portion having an exposed terminal, an apertured bracket, a stud support attached to said holder, said support havingan annular recessed portion and a threaded shank, a spring member in engagement with said annular recessed portion and yieldably urging said holder towards said pane and said blade and strip in pressing engagement therewith, said shank extending through said apertured bracket, a retracting nut in threaded engagement with said shank and engageable with said bracket for operatively retracting said stud support and the attached holder, and means to support said bracket and spring member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,120,094 Shipley Dec. 8, 1914 1,151,758 Bottenstein Aug. 31, 1915 1,924,922 Gehrig Aug. 29, 1933 1,977,483 Koukal Oct. 16, 1934 2,569,635 Holmes Oct. 2, 1951 

3. IN A WINDOW CLEANING DEVICE FOR OPERATIVE USE WITH A WINDOW STRUCTURE COMPRISING A FRAMEWORK AND INNER AND OUTER WINDOW MEMBERS SLIDABLY MOVABLE VERTICALLY RELATIVE TO THE SIDES OF SAID FRAMEWORK, SAID MEMBERS EACH HAVING ONE UPPER, ONE LOWER AND TWO LATERAL SASH SECTIONS SUPPORTING A PANE OF GLASS, THE COMBINATION OF A TRANSVERSE BAR ATTACHED TO THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID FRAMEWORK ADJACENT THE MIDDLE OF ITS VERTICAL HEIGHT AND POSITIONED ADJACENT ONE OF SAID WINDOW MEMBERS, A WIPER MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID BAR AND COMPRISING A HOLDER, A WIPER BLADE, A STRIP OF WATER-ABSORBING MATERIAL ADJACENT SAID BLADE, BOTH SAID BLADE AND STRIP BEING SUPPORTED BY SAID HOLDER AND HAVING EXTERIOR PORTIONS EXTENDING FROM SAID HOLDER AND POSITIONED FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PANE OF SAID ADJACENT WINDOW MEMBER, A WATER-SUPPLY PIPE SUPPORTED BY SAID HOLDER AND HAVING APERTURED PORTIONS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STRIP, A WATER INLET PIPE PORTION COMMUNICATING WITH SAID PIPE AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID HOLDER, THE UPPERMOST PORTION THEREOF HAVING AN EXPOSED TERMINAL, AND YIELDABLE MEANS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID HOLDER FOR YIELDABLY URGING SAID BLADE AND STRIP AGAINST SAID LAST-MENTIONED PANE, SAID BLADE BEING DISPOSED BELOW SAID STRIP, WHEREBY SAID BLADE WILL PREVENT DOWNWARD WATER SEEPAGE FROM SAID STRIP. 